217/1 Moo 10 Soi 8, Pattaya Beach Rd, Pattaya, Thailand | (618) 248-8274
Modern mid-range hotel in buzzing Pattaya center
Most rooms open to balconies, some with sea views
Rooms include flat-screen TVs, minibars, and tea/coffee
Three pools, including rooftop pool and swim-up bar
All-day cafe open late
Free Wi-Fi throughout
Underground parking garage free of charge
Most rooms prone to noisy nightlife
Older rooms are dated and show signs of wear
Frequent complaints of poor customer service
The Sunshine Hotel & Residences is a mid-range hotel set in the buzzing and bustling Soi 8 district in the center of Pattaya city. Split between the older and newer sections of the hotel, the 274 rooms are either dated or contemporary yet bland, though most have balconies. Features include three pools, one on the rooftop with pretty views, though they can fill up quickly. The main caveat is the surrounding nightlife which is invariably noisy until late, so while the rates are very reasonable, a good night's sleep is far from guaranteed. For a budget option away from the ruckus, the Red Planet Pattaya is a good pick.
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Scene
Straightforward, urban hotel popular with night owls and solo travelers
A metallic spiral sun logo marks the entrance of the Sunshine Hotel & Residences' main building -- a square formation of compact blocks overlooking a central space. Stepping through glass-paneled doors, guests enter a minimalist and modern lobby with a white, orange, and gray color scheme. Clever architecture makes the most of the limited space, with pools on the ground, middle, and rooftop levels plus furnished wood terraces overlooking the street. The neighboring Sunshine Tower was also completed in 2012 and now forms part of the property. The hotel is particularly popular with solo travelers, often young men who are in town to party and are less fazed by the inevitable noise from copious surrounding bars.
Location
Set in Pattaya's lively Soi 8 district, close to the beach
The hotel is located on a busy street in the lively Soi 8 district in central Pattaya. There's no shortage of bars, clubs, and massage parlors in the immediate surrounds, and Pattaya's long stretch of sandy beach is just two minutes away on foot. Although relatively quiet during the day, the numerous noisy nightspots come to life every evening and stay open until the early morning hours. The hotel is also just a block from the CentralFestival Pattaya Beach, a seven-floor shopping mall with over 370 outlets plus a cinema and bowling alley. The city's other bustling entertainment district -- Walking Street -- is a five-minute cab ride. Utapao Pattaya Airport is around an hour's drive from the hotel, while getting to Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport takes more like two hours.
Rooms
Split of older and newer rooms -- most with balconies
Of the hotel's 274 rooms, those in the original building have dated, old-fashioned decor that consists of patterned curtains, terra-cotta tiled tile floors, and mismatched furnishings -- some showing signs of wear. Rooms in the newer tower are more contemporary but minimalist, featuring furnishings in light shades of gray and white, and the only pops of color coming from bright green chair cushions. Most have sliding doors that open to balconies, some with partial views of the sea. Amenities include minibars stocked with water, soda, and beer, safes, and flat-screen TVs with some satellite channels, while upgraded rooms add tea- and coffee-making facilities. Bathrooms have either showers or shower/tub combos, hairdryers, and basic toiletries. Most rooms are prone to noise from neighboring bars, as well as occasionally other guests.
Features
Three swimming pools, one rooftop with panoramic views, plus a cafe
The hotel's subdued dining room serves up a decent buffet breakfast of Western, Indian, and Thai dishes, though the meal is not included in the standard rate. Almost spilling out onto the street, the hotel's ground-floor cafe is open throughout the day and offers international dishes until late. The main lower-level pool also has a small swim-up bar and a handful of lounge chairs, though it doesn't get much sun. There's a smaller pool the next level up (without lounge chairs), while a rooftop pool features panoramic vistas, including distant sea views -- though it can fill up quickly. The hotel also has an underground parking garage (free of charge) and two pool tables. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel.
